Gas detection apparatus



Sept. 1, 1931.

A. BAYER GAS DETECTION APPARATUS Filed Nov.

WITNESSES INVENTQR. Ma la /MA y w ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 1, 1931 PATENT OFFICE ADOLPH BAYER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAS DETECTION APPARATUS Application filed November 23, 1927.

conductors may become hot enough to ignite surrounding gases, and remain at such a heat over a long period of time without melting or disintegrating. I make use of this fact by providing a platinum fuse as part of an alarm circuit. The fuse under normal air conditions will remain hot without melting or disintegrating. When noxious combustible gases are present however, they will burn on thesurface of the fuse and increase its temperature to such an extent, that the fuse will melt and operate an alarm.

Objects of the invention are to provide a unique alarm circuit embodying a gas-sensitive fuse of this character, and to provide a gas-sensitive fuse which may be used in various alarm circuits.

The fuse itself is of simple, practical construction, rugged, durable and efficient in use, and well suited to the requirements of economical manufacture and convenient installation.

With the above noted and other objects in View, the invent-ion consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Serial N0. 235,342.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional iew through afuse embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view therethrough on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram showing the position of a fuse in an alarm circuit.

The fuse illustrated in detail in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a pair of blocks 10 of insu lating material spaced apart and rigidly connected by a plurality of parallel rods or bars 11, the ends of the bars being preferably molded in the blocks 10. Terminal members 12 also preferably molded in the blocks are arranged in alignment at the longitudinal axis of the blocks with both their inner and outer-ends projecting from the blocks. The inner ends of the terminals 12 are connected by a platinum fuse wire .13, and the outer ends of the terminals are preferably in electrical contact with brass caps 14 slipped over the ends of the insulating blocks. The space between the two blocks in which the fuse 13 and the exposed portions of the arms 11 are disposed, is preferably confined within a sleeve 15 of fine gauge wire mesl This wire is of a well known character, and is designed to prevent the combustion of gases within the screen from igniting gases exposed exteriorly thereof. i

In Fig. 3 I have shown a wiring diagram in which a coil 16 energzed from any suitable source ofalternating current, transmits energy'to a secondary coil 17. A lead wire 18 from one side of the coil 17 branches into a pair of leads 19 and 20. The lead wire 19 is connected to the winding 20a of a magnet coil, and thence through a lead- 21 to one terminal 12 of the fuse 1.3. The second terminal 12 of the fuse connected to the opposite end of the coil 17 by a lead 22.

Conductor 20 passes through an alarm 23 from whence a. lead wire 24 connects wii h a fixed contact 25. A spring held armature 26 coacting with the magnet 20 is connected at one end by a conductor 27 to the lead wire 22. When the magnet is de-energized, the armature is spring-urged against the contact 25.

In this circuit, the normal flow of current from the coil 17 is through the conductors 18 and 19, magnet 20 conductor 21, fuse 13 and conductor 22. The normal flow energizing the magnet holds the armature out of contact with the terminal 25.

When the fuse 13 burns out due to the ignition of combustible gases on its surface, the above described circuit is broken, the magnet is de-energized, and the alarm circuit sounded when the armature contacts at 25.

By accurately predetermining the gauge of the fuse and the current passing therethrough, the fuse may always be maintained mit free passage of gas therethrough and to prevent passage of flame therefrom, and a platinum fuse wire between said blocks whereby passage of current therethrough will retain said fuse wire at a constant state of incandescency sufficient to ignite combustible gases, said wire being adapted to be burned in the presence of said gases when said ases have been ignited thereby, thus to breal the circuit through the fuse wire.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 21st day of November A D 1927.

ADOLPH BAYER.

at a temperature sufficient to ignite combus-' tible gases without any deterioration of the fuse. When gases filter through the screen 15 however, they will ignite on the hot surface of the fuse, and the fuse will burn out, sounding an alarm circuit.

Obviously, the fuse might be used in other types of alarm circuits. In fact, various changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described without departing from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fuse for gas detection apparatus including a pair of spaced blocks of insulating material, terminals mounted therein, a platinum fuse connecting the terminals, a group of rods having the ends embedded in said blocks for holding the blocks in spaced relation and a flame resistant wire mesh cage cooperating with the blocks to house the fuse.

2. A fuse for gas detecting apparatus, including a pair of spaced insulating blocks, electrodes carried by said blocks, a platinum conductor electrically connecting said electrodes and a wire mesh surrounding part of each of said blocks and said platinum conductor, said mesh permitting gas to flow therethrough and preventing the passage of flame. V

3. A fuse for gas detecting apparatus, including a pair of spaced insulating blocks, electrodes carried by said blocks, a platinum conductor electrically connecting said electrodes, and a wire mesh flame resistant cage carried by said blocks and surrounding said conductor.

4. An electrical fuse operable in the presence of combustible gases to break an electric circuit comprising spaced blocks, means for securing said blocks in aligned spaced relation, a wire screen confining the space between said blocks and being adapted to per- 

